HELP! HELP! Brakes locking up!

ARTJPET · 07-21-2011, 01:48 PM

Greetings.. I need help
2004 alero 4 cyl no anti-lock brakes.
A little history, leading up to my problem....

1) kept geting no-starts, so I clipped the yellow security wire, to the ignition harness ( while car was running). Now, starts all the time ( security lite stays on)!

2) front left caliper started sticking, and brake pedal was getting "hard"
After a few weeks, front left caliper locked up
A) I replaced the roter, and both front brakes, along with a new caliper, brake fluid line, and hardware!
The next day, while driving, the caliper locked up again!
A) I replaced the master cycilder, bled and refilled the brake fluid!
The next day, the front left caliper locked up! WHAT IS LEFT TO REPLACE! Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

jawa · 07-21-2011, 02:22 PM

did you replace the caliper with a new unit?

a.graham52 · 07-21-2011, 03:06 PM

are the pads able to slide nicly in the bracket?
when you say you replaced the line you mean the hose that goes the the caliper?
you know when you go to replace the battery or have a dead battery your going to get a no start with that wire cut?

ARTJPET · 07-22-2011, 11:09 AM

Wow, didn't know about the battery issue.
I did replace the caliper with a new one, as well as the brake fluid line to the caliper! A friend, just guessing, suggested that the power booster may be bad, but would it affect only one caliper?

JLw7123 · 07-22-2011, 11:24 AM

well i would check the booster and see if it has failed. You might need to replace it. also when u bled the brakes did you bleed all 4 of them.

a.graham52 · 07-22-2011, 12:30 PM

sence you did the master yeah you need to bleed all four. but if you replace only once caliper or one hose you do not need to bleed all four. booster would not cause one caliper to stick. all that does is help you push the master better. id try and find the issue with that one brake before replacing the booster.

jawa · 07-22-2011, 01:36 PM

swap the front passanger with the drivers side, to see if its the caliper

ARTJPET · 07-22-2011, 04:21 PM

A quick question on the bypass/new-battery issue! Is there any other way around the passlock issue! I just grew tired of no-starts.....

a.graham52 · 07-22-2011, 04:25 PM

fix the problem...

Cliff8928 · 07-25-2011, 12:59 AM

Possible proportioning valve issue?

a.graham52 · 07-25-2011, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff8928

Possible proportioning valve issue?

i would think if that was the case he would have one other break doing the same thing because that valve effects two wheels together.

Gr1m · 07-26-2011, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawa

swap the front passanger with the drivers side, to see if its the caliper

u cant...the bleeder would be on the bottom and you wouldnt be able to get the air out when bleeding it.

robalero · 07-26-2011, 05:16 AM

grim you can swap them, the just move the bleeder to the top as when you get a reman kit most of them allow you to choose which side your putting that caliper on anyways

Gr1m · 07-26-2011, 08:01 PM

oh alright i have the camaro setup on my front so i havent seen the stock calipers in a while, didnt know you could swap them on the stock calipers.

a.graham52 · 07-27-2011, 07:22 AM

even if he couldnt get ALL the air out he would be able to bleed them enough to tell if its the caliper im sure.

ARTJPET · 08-14-2011, 03:22 PM

THANKS FOR ALL THE IDEAS;
So far; I replaced the
1) master cylender
2) booster
3) one caliper (driver side)
4) one brake hose to driver side caliper
5) brake pads
6) rotors (now already warped from locking up)
The car appeared to be ok for about 10 days, then the pedal started getting "hard", and the front (both) calipers locked up again!

I'm so frustraited, and out of options!

a.graham52 · 08-14-2011, 05:46 PM

hows the connections of the brake booster hose? maybe replace that hose in case it has a leak.

SIUlero · 08-14-2011, 06:05 PM

Make sure the rod coming out of the booster into the master cylinder isn't somehow applying pressure to the master when relaxed (pedal released), with the engine running. I don't know if that rod is adjustable on ours or not, but if it's too long or not centered, the brakes never fully release. Then they overheat and lock up.

ARTJPET · 08-14-2011, 06:30 PM

Thanks for the input, I now have a couple more things to check! What confuses me, is that it seemed ok for about 10 days! Reality sure took the smile off of my face....